Texas tea party activists disavow US Rep. Stockman

The Associated Press

Updated 3:21 pm, Thursday, February 27, 2014

Photo: Evan Vucci, STF

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FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2013, file photo, Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, right, participates in a mock swearing-in ceremony with Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, for the 113th Congress in Washington. Stockman, a suburban Houston Republican is mounting a long-shot challenge from the right against Senate minority whip John Cornyn but has made virtually no public appearances in Texas as questions mount about his campaign finances. Now, heÂs stopped showing up for his day job, too. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File) less

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2013, file photo, Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, right, participates in a mock swearing-in ceremony with Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, for the 113th Congress in ... more

Photo: Evan Vucci, STF

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Rep. Steve Stockman, seen in an undated photo pulled from his official House website Jan. 3, 2014, serves the people of the 36th Congressional District of Texas,

Rep. Steve Stockman, seen in an undated photo pulled from his official House website Jan. 3, 2014, serves the people of the 36th Congressional District of Texas,

Photo: COURTESY

Texas tea party activists disavow US Rep. Stockman

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A coalition of top Texas grassroots conservatives has formally disavowed U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, saying he never represented tea party values.

Stockman is challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in next week's Republican primary. But in an open letter to him Thursday, the activists wrote: "there is nothing about your conduct that represents the spirit of grassroots conservatives."

Stockman has done little organized campaigning and even missed nearly 20 straight House votes in January - though it turned out he was part of an official overseas delegation for much of that time.

His campaign also has faced numerous accusations of ethics and campaign finance violations.